2015–2016 University of Missouri protests

Series of student protests August 2026 February 2016 Tim Tai argues with Janna Basler.jpg Student photojournalist Tim Tai in a confrontation with assistant director of Greek life Janna Basler. Tai's attempt to photograph a tented encampment became a major incident in the protests. 2015 University of Missouri protests Columbia, Missouri *Occupations Online activism Hunger strike Boycott Payton Head, student government presidentJonathan Butler, hunger strikerLegion of Black Collegians Timothy Wolfe, president of University of Missouri SystemR. Bowen Loftin, chancellor of University of Missouri In 2015, a series of protests at the University of Missouri related to race, workplace benefits, and leadership resulted in the resignations of the president of the University of Missouri System and the chancellor of the flagship Columbia campus. The moves came after a series of events that included a hunger strike by a student and a boycott by the football team. The movement was primarily led by a student group named Concerned Student 1950, referencing the first year black students were allowed to enroll in the university. The movement and protests were documented in two films, one made by MU student journalists and the other, 2 Fists Up, by Spike Lee.https://theintercept.com/2016/03/22/concerned-student-1950-new-film-shows-inside-account-of-university-of-missouri-protests/ New Film Shows Real-Time, Inside Account of the University of Missouri Student Protests Greenwald Glenn The Intercept March 22, 2016 2017-04-04https://andscape.com/videos/spike-lees-lil-joints-2-fists-up/ Lil' Joints: The Final Season Jones Maya A. 2016-05-31 Andscape 2017-04-04 While it is alleged that bad publicity from the protests has led to dropping enrollment and cutbacks, others have cited budget cuts issued from the state legislature.University of Missouri enrollment to decline more than 7 percent; 400 jobs to be eliminated Keller Rudi Columbia Daily Tribune May 15, 2017 June 4, 2017 http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/20170515/university-of-missouri-enrollment-to-decline-more-than-7-percent-400-jobs-to-be-eliminated Background In 2010, two white students dropped cotton balls in front of the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center. They were arrested and charged with tampering, which is a felony, and which was prosecuted as a hate crime based on evocation of the historical slur "cotton picker" to describe enslaved or sharecropping black people.Morrison David http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/crime/two-arrested-in-cotton-ball-incident/article_d9781cd7-52ee-5f18-801b-a66de6d6720c.html Two arrested in cotton ball incident Columbia Daily Tribune 2016-01-05 The prosecutor asked for them to serve 120 days in jail but they were eventually only convicted of littering, which is a misdemeanor, and sentenced to probation and community service with no jail time.https://www.themaneater.com/stories/campus/students-sentenced-cotton-ball-incident Students sentenced for cotton ball incident theManeater.com 2010-04-29 Samantha Sunne December 5, 2018 December 5, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181205193433/https://www.themaneater.com/stories/campus/students-sentenced-cotton-ball-incident dead In 2011 a student was given probation for racist graffiti in a student dormitory.http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/student-gets-probation-for-racist-graffiti-at-mu/article_33b8b072-af18-11e1-90d8-0019bb30f31a.html Student gets probation for racist graffiti at MU St. Louis Post Dispatch 2012-06-05 2016-01-05 The events led to the creation of a diversity initiative called "One Mizzou" under MU chancellor Brady Deaton. This initiative was discontinued in 2015 owing to concerns that it had lost its meaning.http://identity.missouri.edu/graphic-identity-standards/2-other-university-marks/2.7-one-mizzou.php 2.7 One Mizzou | Mizzou Identity Standards Identity.missouri.edu 2015-05-05 2016-01-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20160113044852/http://identity.missouri.edu/graphic-identity-standards/2-other-university-marks/2.7-one-mizzou.php January 13, 2016 dead Sarah Wynn June 3, 2015 http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/6/3/administrators-developing-new-marketing-campaign-s/ Administrators discontinue One Mizzou, developing new marketing campaign this summer The Maneater 2016-01-05 November 13, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151113081803/http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/6/3/administrators-developing-new-marketing-campaign-s/ dead thumb|University of Missouri student Jonathan Butler at a Planned Parenthood rally at the University of Missouri in September 2015 On September 12, 2015, a Facebook posthttps://www.facebook.com/payton.head/posts/10205183585252620 Facebook Facebook by the student government president Payton Head described bigotry and anti-gay sentiment around the college campus, which gained widespread attention.A timeline of the University of Missouri protests Pearson Michael CNN November 9, 2015 2015-11-11 https://www.cnn.com/2015/11/09/us/missouri-protest-timeline/ Timeline of recent events at University of Missouri Associated Press November 11, 2015 2015-11-11 https://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=37315731 He claimed that in an incident off campus, unidentified people in the back of a passing pickup truck directed racial slurs at him. "For those of you who wonder why I'm always talking about the importance of inclusion and respect, it's because I've experienced moments like this multiple times at THIS university, making me not feel included here." Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin called the incident "totally unacceptable" on September 17. Protests thumb|left|upright=0.75|A Concerned Student protester in the commons area, November 11, 2015 The first student protests occurred on September 24, 2015, at an event called "Racism Lives Here," where protesters claimed nothing had been done to address Head's concerns. On October 1, a second "Racism Lives Here" event was held with 40–50 participants.Students march through MU Student Center in protest of racial injustice Naskidashvili Nana Columbia Missourian October 1, 2015 2015-11-11 http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/students-march-through-mu-student-center-in-protest-of-racial/article_4b8e3458-688b-11e5-8412-9b38a4d41eb8.html Second 'Racism Lives Here' event calls for administration to act on social injustices Plaster Madison The Maneater October 1, 2015 2015-11-11 http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/10/1/second-racism-lives-here-event-calls-administratio/ November 11, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151111035002/http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/10/1/second-racism-lives-here-event-calls-administratio/ dead An incident involving a drunken student on October 4 gave rise to more racial tensions. While an African-American student group, the Legion of Black Collegians, was preparing for Homecoming activities, a white student walked on stage and was asked to leave. Supposedly, while departing the premises the student said, "These niggers are getting aggressive with me", according to the LBC.LBC Homecoming Royalty harassed at Traditions Plaza Loutfi Elizabeth The Maneather 5 October 2015 2015-11-11 http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/10/5/lbc-homecoming-royalty-harassed-traditions-plaza/ these niggers are getting aggressive with me. November 12, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151112223946/http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/10/5/lbc-homecoming-royalty-harassed-traditions-plaza/ dead This prompted chancellor Loftin, traveling outside the US, to record a video message in response and to release a statement that said, "Racism and all prejudice is heinous, insidious and damaging to Mizzou... That is why all of us must commit to changing the culture at this university."Message from Chancellor Loftin YouTube 5 October 2015 2015-11-11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DTv28rhbM0 Later that month, the student group "Concerned Student 1950" was created, referring to the first year the University of Missouri admitted black students. On October 24, a police officer responding to a property damage complaint reported that an unknown vandal had smeared feces in the shape of a swastika on a bathroom wall in a dorm on campus.http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/police-report-confirms-university-of-missouri-swastika-story/article_4ee0f112-098f-59a3-9f3d-ebd1d6335003.html Police report confirms University of Missouri swastika story Associated Press St. Louis Post-Dispatch November 12, 2015Swastika found in MU bathroom http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/education/swastika-found-in-mu-bathroom/article_c8874133-fac3-57da-bf74-e567f0735942.html Columbia Daily Tribune 2015-11-11 On November 3, student Jonathan Butler launched a hunger strike, vowing not to eat until the president resigned.Mizzou Family, This may be my last... – Jonathan L. Butler Facebook http://www.facebook.com One of Butler's stated reasons for this was that Timothy Wolfe's car had struck him during a protest against Wolfe at the school's homecoming parade.Black grad student on hunger strike in Mo. after swastika drawn with human feces Miller Michael E. The Washington Post November 6, 2015 2015-11-13 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/11/06/black-grad-student-on-hunger-strike-in-mo-after-swastika-drawn-with-human-feces/ During the incident, Students confronted the president by linking arms in front of his vehicle. Wolfe revved the car's engine and drove into Butler. No police charges were filed in connection to the incident.https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/in-homecoming-parade-racial-justice-advocates-take-different-paths/article_24c824da-6f77-11e5-958e-fb15c6375503.html In Homecoming parade, racial justice advocates take different paths October 10, 2015 November 11, 2015 Colombian Missourian Reese AshleyDid #Mizzou Protestor Jonathan Butler Lie About Being Hit By UM President's Car?, YouTube thumb|Occupation protest in Jesse Hall, October 6, 2015 His statement said, "Mr. Wolfe had ample opportunity to create policies and reform that could shift the culture of Mizzou in a positive direction but in each scenario he failed to do so." Butler later cited his participation in the Ferguson protests against the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown as a major influence for his action.Hunger striker gives credit to fellow activists fighting racism at University of Missouri https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-missouri-hunger-striker-20151110-story.html Los Angeles Times 2015-11-11 2015-10-11 Pearce Matt On November 7, with hundreds of prospective students flooding Mizzou's campus for the university's recruiting day, student protesters intervened with a "mock tour" where they recited racist incidents that occurred at MU beginning in 2010 with the dispersion of cotton balls on the lawn of the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center along with more recent events such as the use of racial epithets against two young women of color outside of the MU Student Recreation Complex.http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/protesters-use-recruiting-day-to-voice-concerns-about-racism-at/article_a8477d70-8579-11e5-ae8c-6f3361124450.html Protesters use recruiting day to voice concerns about racism at MU November 7, 2015 November 12, 2015 Columbia Missourian Sawey Elizabeth On November 8, Mizzou football players announced they would not practice or play until Wolfe resigned, potentially costing the university a $1 million fine if they had to forfeit an upcoming game against Brigham Young University.Black Football Players Lend Heft to Protests at Missouri https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/09/us/missouri-football-players-boycott-in-protest-of-university-president.html The New York Times 2015-11-08 2015-11-11 0362-4331 Marc Tracy Ashley Southall The Southeastern Conference Football Commissioner issued a statement saying, "I respect Missouri's student-athletes for engaging on issues of importance and am hopeful the concerns at the center of this matter will be resolved in a positive manner."https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2587163-black-missouri-football-players-boycotting-until-school-president-resigns Black Missouri Football Players Boycotting Until School President Resigns November 12, 2015 Bleacher Report Nathan Alec The Mizzou Athletics Department previously indicated that it fully supported the players' actions.https://www.wsj.com/articles/minority-players-on-university-of-missouri-football-team-threaten-boycott-1446997013 Minority Players on University of Missouri Football Team Threaten Boycot The Wall Street Journal November 8, 2015 Terlep Sharon Belkin Douglas The protests attracted widespread local, regional, and national news media attention. Some protesters said the coverage was impacted by journalists' lack of previous race-related experience, reliance on scripted behaviors, and desire to cover the event as "outsiders looking in."Thomson T. J. 2016-10-01 Black, White, and a Whole Lot of Gray: How White Photojournalists Covered Race During the 2015 Protests at Mizzou Visual Communication Quarterly 23 4 223–233 10.1080/15551393.2016.1230473 150791909 1555-1393 https://eprints.qut.edu.au/119019/7/119019.pdf Loss of health insurance for grad students One of Butler's reasons for his hunger strike was "graduate students being robbed of their health insurance".Jonathan Butler: Meet the man whose hunger strike flipped the script at Mizzou, CNN, November 10, 2015 In August 2015, the university had issued a statement to graduate students that said, "The Affordable Care Act prevents employers from giving employees money specifically so they can buy health insurance on the individual market. Graduate teaching and research assistants are classified as employees by the IRS, so they fall under this ruling."Information About Student Health Insurance https://web.archive.org/web/20151114101513/http://gradstudies.missouri.edu/about/news-events/news-features/2015/information-about-student-health-insurance/ November 14, 2015 , gradstudies.missouri.edu, August 15, 2015University of Missouri ends funding for graduate student health insurance, blames feds https://web.archive.org/web/20150909060630/http://munews.missouri.edu/daily-clip-packets/2015/08-18-15.pdf September 9, 2015 , Mizzou News, Daily Clips Packet, August 18, 2015U. of Missouri cuts health insurance subsidies for grad students, USA Today, August 21, 2015 The university had known about the Affordable Care Act concerns since July 21, but put off communicating with graduate students until announcing on August 14 that subsidies would be cut, the day before graduate health insurance plans were set to expire.http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/education/mu-graduate-student-employees-lose-health-insurance-subsidy/article_28a9170a-ac0a-550e-9565-58345d6477bd.html MU graduate student employees lose health insurance subsidy Favignano Megan August 15, 2015 Columbia Daily Tribune April 4, 2017 en Rolla arrest A computer science and math student at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla confessed during his arrestMorrison David Suspect in campus threats makes first court appearance http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/crime/suspect-in-campus-threats-makes-first-court-appearance/article_e64c31f2-112d-521f-9edc-0bfbcf626afc.html 2016-01-05 Columbiatribune.com to making a hoax threat to the university. An account with the same username on Reddit bragged that he had "trolled" Mizzou.November 11, 2015 Hunter Park: Apparent Reddit account boasts of 'trolling' https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/hunter-park-apparent-reddit-account-boasts-trolling-article-1.2431535 Daily News New YorkMizzou Online Threat Suspect Hunter Park Mimicked Oregon Shooting Posts: Police https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mizzou-online-threat-suspect-hunter-park-mimicked-oregon-shooting-posts-n462301 NBC News Associated PressStevenson Kelly 11 November 2015 2 Students Allegedly Made Terrorist Threats in Missouri https://abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-detained-allegedly-posting-online-threats-missouri-campus/story?id=35126012 2015-11-12 ABC NewsAlcindor Yamiche Stanglin Doug 11 November 2015 2 suspects arrested in social media threats at Missouri campuses https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/11/11/some-at-u-of-missouri-on-edge-after-social-media-threats-of-violence/75559034/ 2015-11-12 USA TODAY Resignations Wolfe issued a statement on November 8 implying that he would not step down and that he was "dedicated to ongoing dialogue to address these very complex, societal issues as they affect our campus community".http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/news/leadership_news/110815_statement Statement from University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe November 8, 2015 November 12, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151109182225/http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/news/leadership_news/110815_statement/ November 9, 2015 dead On November 9, however, Wolfe announced his resignation. Later that day Chancellor Loftin announced he would resign at the end of 2015University of Missouri Chancellor follows President in stepping down Viviani Nick wibw.com November 9, 2015 2015-11-11 http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/The-Latest-University-of-Missouri-System-president-resigns-343731172.html November 12, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151112052018/http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/The-Latest-University-of-Missouri-System-president-resigns-343731172.html dead to take a research role at the university. His departure was hastened by the Board of Curators on November 11, who passed his responsibility to Interim Chancellor Hank Foley. His departure was initially assumed to be related to the protests. However, unlike Wolfe, student protesters had not requested that he step down.http://kbia.org/post/4-things-you-might-have-wrong-about-mizzou-story 4 Things You Might Have Wrong about the Mizzou Story Ryan Famuliner November 12, 2015 kbia.org His resignation was the congruence of several issues raised by administrators and faculty, who were displeased with his leadership style, dismissal of administrators, and management of several campus incidents of racism and graduate health insurance subsidies that were allowed to lapse under his leadership.http://www.columbiatribune.com/opinion/oped/mu-campus-littered-with-casualties/article_2cc7ba53-9012-55d0-9c11-c30c971569fe.html MU campus littered with casualties Columbia Daily Tribunehttp://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/missteps-not-student-revolt-led-to-mizzou-chancellor-s-demise/article_f955e9cf-6fc8-5fb0-b2cc-1b798d53fccc.html Missteps, not student revolt, led to Mizzou chancellor's demise Lee Enterprises November 12, 2015 stltoday.comKeller Rudi Semester of strife capped longstanding issues with Wolfe, Loftin November 12, 2015 Columbia Daily Tribune http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/politics/semester-of-strife-capped-longstanding-issues-with-wolfe-loftin/article_41ee52f7-fe9d-5641-865b-a44fffe6ecc9.html The days after the resignation announcement resulted in some confusion, cancelled classes and reports of threats and suspicious activity. On the evening of November 10, there were reports of vehicles and unidentified individuals around campus posing a threat.Arrest Made for Threat of Violence During Chaotic Night at University of Missouri Mathis-Lilley Ben Slate November 11, 2015 2015-11-12 http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/11/11/arrest_for_violent_threats_at_university_of_missouri.html Reactions Melissa Click incident thumb|A frame from a student's video made famous by social media Soon after the announcement of the resignations, there was a widely publicized dispute between student photojournalist Tim Tai, on a freelance assignment for ESPN, and protesters on Carnahan Quad where they had erected an encampment. While attempting to cover the event, Tai got into a dispute with, and was physically confronted by, students and those who would later be identified as University of Missouri staff and faculty, including untenured communication professor Melissa Click.https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2015/11/10/university-of-missouri-please-immediately-fire-employees-who-taunted-media/ University of Missouri, please immediately fire employees who taunted media Erik Wemple 10 November 2015 The Washington Post Click appeared to grab Tai's camera after he approached her asking if "he could be here", and then threatened student Mark Schierbecker, yelling, "Who wants to help me get this reporter out of here? I need some muscle over here."Huguelet Austin Victor Daniel 'I Need Some Muscle': Missouri Activists Block Journalists https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/10/us/university-missouri-protesters-block-journalists-press-freedom.html 8 July 2018 The New York Times 9 November 2015 Other staff who interfered with Tai's attempts to photograph the scene included Janna Basler, the university's assistant director of Greek life and leadership, and Richard J. "Chip" Callahan, professor and chair of religious studies. Schierbecker's video of Tai excercising his right to be in a public area became widely distributed and commented on in the mainstream media.http://mediashift.org/2015/11/first-amendment-questions-in-missouri-protest-video-trickier-than-they-seem/ First Amendment Questions in Missouri Protest Video Trickier Than They Seem - MediaShift 2015-11-24 MediaShift 2017-04-04 en-UShttp://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/article_e53564e2-97c4-11e5-9eee-47dd1d7d94fd.html Melissa Click and the forgotten freedom columnist Michael R. Allen Guest St. Louis American 2017-04-04 enhttps://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/race-and-the-free-speech-diversion Race and the Free-Speech Diversion 2015-11-10 The New Yorker 2017-04-04https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/11/11/theres-a-good-reason-protesters-at-the-university-of-missouri-didnt-want-the-media-around/ There's a good reason protesters at the University of Missouri didn't want the media around Washington Post 2017-04-04https://www.poynter.org/2015/an-insiders-view-the-wall-between-student-activists-and-student-journalists/384396/ An insider's view: The wall between student activists and student journalists 2015-11-12 Poynter 2017-04-04 en-UShttps://www.salon.com/2015/11/10/missouri_activists_vs_the_press_is_still_a_story_about_race_this_is_what_happens_when_black_students_cant_trust_the_media/ Missouri activists vs. the press is still a story about race: This is what happens when black students can't trust the media Lee Paula Young Salon November 11, 2015 2017-04-04http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/expert-carnahan-quad-kerfuffle-was-not-a-first-amendment-conflict/article_12032e50-8d7f-11e5-96e4-ab8806d41995.html Expert: Carnahan Quad kerfuffle was not a First Amendment conflict Kelliher Lauren Columbia Missourian 2017-04-04 en The day after the incident, with Tai getting support from the Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder and others, the campus group Concerned Student 1950 passed out fliers calling the confrontation between journalists and protesters a "Teachable Moment" and directing the students to welcome the media to campus as a way to tell the story of the protests. They also removed signs previously put up warning the media to stay away from the student encampments.Missouri protesters change tack and welcome media, day after shooing journalists away https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2015/11/10/missouri-protesters-try-to-stop-photographer-from-doing-job U.S. News & World Report 2015-11-11 2015-11-15 Jim Suhr Jim Suhr Three University of Missouri employees involved in the altercation apologized and Click resigned from her courtesy appointment at the Missouri School of Journalism.University of Missouri Professor Who Confronted Photographer Quits Journalism Post https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/us/university-of-missouri-names-law-professor-to-diversity-post.html The New York Times 2015-11-10 2015-11-11 0362-4331 Richard Pérez-peña Christine HauserMU religious studies professor apologized to photojournalist Tim Tai https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2015/11/11/mu-religious-studies-professor-apologized-to-photojournalist-tim-tai/ The Washington Post 2015-11-11 2015-11-11 0190-8286 en-US Erik Wemple Erik Wemple On January 25, 2016, Click was charged with misdemeanor assault linked to her behavior during the incident and accepted community service in exchange for dismissal of the charges.Assault charge filed against Missouri assistant professor, San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press, January 25, 2016Belkin Douglas University of Missouri Professor Charged Over Protest https://www.wsj.com/articles/university-of-missouri-professor-charged-over-protest-1453753837 January 25, 2016 The Wall Street Journal 25 January 2016 2016 January 5 US, more than 100 faculty members had signed a letter in defense of Click.http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article53076705.html University of Missouri faculty support professor whom Republicans want fired kansascity 2017-04-04 en Several faculty members wrote letters of support to local and national news outlets.http://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-I-Continue-to-Support/235388 Why I Continue to Support Melissa Click 2016-02-22 The Chronicle of Higher Education 2017-04-04http://www.columbiamissourian.com/opinion/guest_commentaries/guest-commentary-shakespeare-melissa-click-and-campus-unrest/article_3a7943be-d597-11e5-8eef-3f066ac23284.html GUEST COMMENTARY: Shakespeare, Melissa Click and campus unrest Kerwin William Columbia Missourian 2017-04-04 enhttp://www.columbiamissourian.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letter-to-the-editor-melissa-click-cares-about-mu-students/article_311d840e-c914-11e5-aba8-bb976ee3b576.html LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Melissa Click cares about MU students Socarides Alexandra Columbia Missourian 2017-04-04 enhttp://www.columbiamissourian.com/opinion/guest_commentaries/guest-commentary-in-support-of-melissa-click-as-she-supported/article_fe6dbb5c-c515-11e5-9379-8bbdb8d7336d.html GUEST COMMENTARY: In support of Melissa Click as she supported us Shonekan Stephanie Columbia Missourian 2017-04-04 en In a video obtained by the Columbia Missourian in February 2016, Click was seen shouting a profanity at police officers as they attempted to clear protesting students from a road at the school's homecoming parade. Click defended her actions, saying that she was sorry for her language but that she was also sorry she had to put herself in front of the police to protect the students.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/02/15/mizzou-professor-melissa-click-seen-cursing-cop-new-video/80401802/ Missouri professor Melissa Click seen cursing at cop in new video Rieder, Ram Madhani, Aamer That same month, the Faculty Council and Intercampus Faculty Council urged administrators and the board of curators to comply with the system's Collected Rules and Regulations when dealing with Click.http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/mu-faculty-say-melissa-click-deserves-due-process-fair-treatment/article_951e7026-d58f-11e5-9242-cfa8863882e9.html MU faculty say Melissa Click deserves due process, fair treatment from administrators Schmitt William Columbia Missourian 2017-04-04 enhttp://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/um-system-intercampus-faculty-council-calls-for-due-process-for/article_d6cced8e-da7d-11e5-8c62-e788c1a4a3f2.html UM System Intercampus Faculty Council calls for due process for Melissa Click Kull Katie Columbia Missourian 2017-04-04 en On February 25, 2016, the University of Missouri Board of Curators voted 4–2 to terminate Click's employment with the university.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/02/25/university-missouri-fires-professor-melissa-click/80940690/ University of Missouri fires professor Melissa Click February 25, 2016 USA TODAY March 1, 2016 As a result of this action, the University of Missouri was placed on the American Association of University Professors' Censure List.https://www.aaup.org/report/academic-freedom-and-tenure-university-missouri-columbia Academic Freedom and Tenure: University of Missouri (Columbia) AAUP www.aaup.org April 26, 2016 2017-04-04 Commenting in an interview with the Chronicle of Higher Education, Click stated, "I'm a white lady. I'm an easy target."Wilson Robin Being Melissa Click http://chronicle.com/article/Being-Melissa-Click/236226 The Chronicle of Higher Education 8 July 2016 24 April 2016 In 2017, she was hired as a lecturer by Gonzaga University, where she later became an assistant professor.https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article99689332.html Fired MU professor Melissa Click hired at Gonzaga University kansascityhttps://www.gonzaga.edu/college-of-arts-sciences/departments/communication-studies/faculty Faculty of the Department of Communication Studies 15 June 2019 KKK hoax On November 10, 2015, Student Body President Payton Head made a Facebook saying, "Students please take precaution. Stay away from the windows in residence halls. The KKK has been confirmed to be sighted on campus. I'm working with the [campus police], the state trooper and the National Guard." Major Brian Weimer with the school's police department repudiated Head's comments, stating that there was no known KKK presence on campus nor was the National Guard present. Head apologized and retracted his comments, saying on Facebook, "I'm sorry about the misinformation that I have shared through social media."University of Missouri students report threats; police quell KKK rumors. CNN. November 11, 2015 On November 11, 2015, the MU officially remained open, though many individual classes were cancelled after threats on social media and by phone.Online threats stoke fears at University of Missouri Hancock Jason Kansas City Star November 11, 2015 2015-11-12 http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article44247495.html During a meeting between the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus and student activists, University of Missouri police reported that an anonymous caller phoned in a threat to the Oldham Black Culture Center.As death threats spread fear at Mizzou, professor asks students to defeat 'bullies' and attend class Miller Michael E. The Washington Post 2015-11-12 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/11/11/as-threats-spread-fear-at-mizzou-a-professor-asks-students-to-defeat-bullies-and-attend-class/ Missouri Legislative Black Caucus '100 percent supportive of students seeking change' Nero Amanda Columbia Missourian 10 November 2015 2015-11-12 http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/missouri-legislative-black-caucus-percent-supportive-of-students-seeking-change/article_400d466e-87e4-11e5-bcb6-67c814229cf3.html One professor, Dale Brigham, was at the center of controversy when he chose to administer a planned exam for Nutritional Science 1034, saying, "If you don't feel safe coming to class, then don't come to class... I will be there, and there will be an exam administered in our class," while allowing students an option to take a make-up exam. After some students complained that the professor was not taking the threats seriously, Brigham apologized and offered his resignation, saying, "If my leaders think that my leaving would help, I am all for it. I made a mistake, and I do not want to cause further harm." However, the university turned down the resignation later that day.Missouri Professor's Resignation for Email About 'Bullies' May Be Rejected Schuppe Jon NBC News November 11, 2015 2015-11-12 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/missouri-professor-resigns-after-telling-students-not-let-bullies-win-n461686 I made a mistake, and I do not want to cause further harmUpdate: Resignation not accepted from MU professor who sent email KOMU.com Columbia, MO Kummerer Samantha KOMU.com 2015-11-12 http://www.komu.com/news/update-resignation-not-accepted-from-mu-professor-who-sent-email/ Gus T. Ridgel, one of the nine African-American students enrolled into the University of Missouri in 1950, "was surprised and disappointed by the racist incidents at the university that prompted a campus upheaval".A Real Missouri 'Concerned Student 1950' Speaks, at Age 89 https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/us/an-original-missouri-concerned-student-1950-speaks-at-age-89.html The New York Times 2015-11-10 2015-11-12 0362-4331 Michael Wines U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jarred Prier argues that Russian influence operatives use U.S. social media as an information warfare medium, spreading false information during incidents of racial unrest in order to inflame racial tensions in the United States and discredit the Obama administration.https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2018/02/14/russian-twitter-troll-fabricated-claims-of-kkk-invading-mizzou-campus-in-2015 Russian Twitter Troll Fabricated Claims of KKK Invading Mizzou Campus in 2015 Danny Wicentowski Riverfront Timeshttps://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/SSQ/documents/Volume-11_Issue-4/Prier.pdf Commanding the Trend: Social Media as Information Warfare 2017 Strategic Studies Quarterly Prier Jarred Related protests The University of Missouri events inspired other protests or indications of solidarity at over eightyOur Demands http://www.blackliberationcollective.org/our-demands 2020-06-11 Black Liberation Collective en-US other campuses in the United States.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/college-students-across-the-country-stand-in-solidarity-with-mizzou_us_5644dc52e4b08cda3487e1a1 College Students Across The Country Stand In Solidarity With Mizzou Workneh Lilly 2015-11-12 Huffington Post 2017-04-04 en-US Among these were Ithaca College,Ithaca College students protest; is it next Missouri? Griggs Brandon CNN November 11, 2015 2015-11-13 https://www.cnn.com/2015/11/11/us/ithaca-college-protest-racism-campus/ Yale University, Smith College, Claremont McKenna College,Racial Discrimination Protests Ignite at Colleges Across the U.S. Hartocollis Anemona Bidgood Jess The New York Times November 11, 2015 2015-11-13 https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/12/us/racial-discrimination-protests-ignite-at-colleges-across-the-us.html Amherst College, Emporia State University,https://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/March-on-Emporia-protesters-say-we-are-beyond-talking--337642621.html March on Emporia protesters say we are 'beyond talking' Sax Lindsay www.wibw.com en 2019-02-11 February 12, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011556/https://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/March-on-Emporia-protesters-say-we-are-beyond-talking--337642621.html deadhttp://www.emporiagazette.com/news/article_60b23cb8-983a-5e90-96e8-720a6c90f864.html Accusations continue in ESU race debate Wagoner Jessie Emporia Gazette October 6, 2015 en 2019-02-11 Brandeis University,Jan Ransom https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/11/22/brandeis-students-occupy-building-protest-lack-racial-diversity/I1yUrfTbEpFdyW2ilajvJM/story.html Brandeis students occupy building to protest lack of racial diversity The Boston Globe 2015-11-23 2016-01-05 and Tufts University.2015-11-18 Tufts students join nationwide protests against campus racism https://tuftsdaily.com/news/2015/11/18/tufts-students-join-nationwide-protests-campus-racism/ 2020-06-11 The Tufts Daily en On November 13, the dean of students at Claremont McKenna College stepped down, after student protesters adopted similar tactics to those in Missouri, including a hunger strike.Facing Protests About Racial Climate, Another Campus Administrator Steps Down Sarah Brown The Chronicle of Higher Education November 13, 2015 2015-11-13 http://chronicle.com/article/Facing-Protests-About-Racial/234191?cid=rc_right Dear Claremont McKenna College Community — Medium Lemmons Taylor Medium November 11, 2015 2015-11-13 https://medium.com/@tlemmons/dear-claremont-mckenna-college-community-1861eb1fe846 https://web.archive.org/web/20151114195523/https://medium.com/@tlemmons/dear-claremont-mckenna-college-community-1861eb1fe846 November 14, 2015 dead mdy-all Appointment of interim president On the evening of November 12, the governing board of the University of Missouri decided in a closed-door meeting to name Michael Middleton, a law professor and deputy chancellor emeritus as the interim president. Middleton, a 1968 graduate of the university and the third African American to graduate from its law school, recently retired from the university after 30 years.University of Missouri taps interim system president McLaughlin Eliott C. Payne Ed Stapleton AnneClaire CNN 12 November 2015 2015-11-13 https://www.cnn.com/2015/11/12/us/university-of-missouri-racism-protest/ University of Missouri names black interim president Bacon John Madhani Aamer USA Today 12 November 2015 2015-11-13 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/11/12/controversial-u-missouri-professor-may-keep-job/75642556/ Politicians During an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, President Barack Obama praised the protesters, but cautioned against protest tactics that he felt stifled open dialogue at the University of Missouri and other campuses. He said, "There is clearly a problem at the University of Missouri, and that's not just coming from students. That's coming from some faculty. And I think it is entirely appropriate for students in a thoughtful, peaceful way to protest—what they see as injustices or inattention to serious problems in their midst. I want an activist student body just like I want an activist citizenry."Saenz Arlette President Obama Praises University of Missouri Protesters: 'I Want an Activist Citizenry' https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obama-praises-university-missouri-protesters-activist-citizenry/story?id=35203826 December 3, 2015 ABC News 15 November 2015 I want an activist student body just like I want an activist citizenry, and the issue is just making sure that even as these young people are getting engaged, getting involved, speaking out that they're also listening. Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder issued a statement supporting the journalists covering the protests on November 9. He called for investigating the incident saying, "Faculty and staff cannot be allowed to pick and choose which rights, viewpoints and freedoms they respect. I renew my call to restore law and order on campus, so the rights of all are protected."Kinder Peter Lt. Governor Kinder issues statement on University unrest http://ltgov.mo.gov/news/lt-governor-kinder-issues-statement-on-university-unrest/ December 8, 2015 Office of Peter Kinder 10 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151211125409/http://ltgov.mo.gov/news/lt-governor-kinder-issues-statement-on-university-unrest/ December 11, 2015 dead mdy-all Turning away reporters at campus meeting On February 10, 2016, Concerned Student 1950 held a meeting on campus. The meeting had been advertised as a "town hall" for "black students and students of color." The group asked all reporters to leave before the meeting began. Several white reporters then left the room. However, one reporter, Mark Schierbecker, the same videographer from the November Melissa Click incident, refused, and justified his refusal to leave by saying the unreserved room was a "limited public forum" that was open to students and that she was a reporter on assignment and it was her "personal preference" to stay. Despite the meeting taking place on campus property, the group continued to ask her to leave, and eventually threatened to call campus police. Instead, the group disbanded soon after the start of the meeting, intending to relocate the meeting at a more private area of campus.Kabbany Jennifer At 'students of color'-only Mizzou activism meeting, white journalists kicked out https://www.thecollegefix.com/post/26214/ 28 April 2016 12 February 2016 Student enrollment and alumni reaction According to The New York Times, freshman enrollment for the fall 2017 semester was down by 35% compared with two years prior. Seven dormitories have been temporarily closed and some 400 positions have been cut. "Students of all races have shunned Missouri, but the drop in freshman enrollment last fall was strikingly higher among blacks, at 42 percent, than among whites, at 21 percent."Anemna Hartocollis, "Long After Protests, Students Shun the University of Missouri", New York Times, July 9, 2017. Formal report Adrianna Kezar and Sharon Fries-Britt, at the invitation of the university, used the events as a case study and published a report in 2018.Kezar Adrianna Fries-Britt Sharon Speaking Truth and Acting with Integrity: Confronting Challenges of Campus Racial Climate 2018 American Council on Education https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Speaking-Truth-and-Acting-with-Integrity.pdf 10 June 2020 It introduces a "Collective Trauma Recovery Framework (CTRF) for dealing with such complex and usually emotionally charged incidents".Pennamon Tiffany Jones LaMont ACE Study Outlines Best Practices in Campus Racial Crises https://diverseeducation.com/article/131713/ 10 June 2020 Diverse: Issues In Higher Education Cox, Matthews, and Associates, Inc. 13 November 2018 en References 30em Category:2015 in Missouri Category:2015 protests Category:2016 in Missouri Category:2016 protests Category:21st century in Columbia, Missouri Category:Academic scandals in the United States Category:African-American history in Columbia, Missouri Category:African-American-related controversies Category:Articles containing video clips Category:History of racism in Missouri Category:Politics of Columbia, Missouri Category:Student protests in Missouri Category:University of Missouri Category:Athlete activism in the United States